“ They were taken there by train at nighttime , and the windows were all blacked out so they couldn ’ t see where they were going ,” Sheedy said .
When they returned three years later , their families were able to reclaim some of their property , but not all of it . While Sheedy and Iwanaga say that their mother did not speak much of her time there , they imagine that she had strong feelings . “ I ’ m sure they suppressed a lot of anger and resentment , because when they came back from the camps there were quite a few people that had lost all their property — it was given away or taken away with no legal recourse ,” Iwanaga said .
It wouldn ’ t be the Iwanagas ’ only experience with anti-Japanese racism . David recounted a family trip in Idaho where their father stormed out of a hotel saying , “’ Apparently this guy doesn ’ t like Japanese people .” He refused to return to Idaho .
However , The Iwanagas didn ’ t let these attitudes hold them back from their dreams . Grace and William married in 1957 and quickly began their farming enterprise and their family . In 1958 the first of their six children , David , was born , followed by Paul , Lisa — the only girl — Jeffrey , Glenn and Warren . All the siblings participated in the farming effort in one way or another .
Lisa remembered her mother started work at six in the morning and kept at it until six at night , if not longer , and that she frequently joined her workers in the field to pick strawberries alongside them . “ We never knew what a Mother ’ s Day was for years ,” Sheedy said , because their mother didn ’ t take time off .
Images provided by Grace Iwanaga family
When Sheedy was an adult , she ’ d go out to visit her mother on a Sunday and her father would tell her that her mom was out working in the fields .
Perhaps because of her own painful experiences , Sheedy said , “ She always believed in treating her workers respectfully and with kindness .”
Though she was kind , she was a stern task-master , as well , and David recalled with laughter how their tiny mother could put the fear into crews just by showing up .
“ The one thing the foreman and crew really hated to see , especially during harvest , was my mom ’ s car coming down the driveway . The foreman would always cringe if he saw my mom bend over and start picking , because it meant he wasn ’ t watching what he was supposed to be doing ,” Iwanaga said .
Both siblings recount with awe that even after working as hard as she did during the day , their mother still managed to always have a hot lunch and dinner for her family . “ Sometimes dinner wouldn ’ t be until ten at night for the whole family , because we were all out in the fields ,” Iwanaga said .
For the six siblings , Sheedy said their mom would make six different pies because they all liked different ones . She supported local youth , as well , inviting over packs of kids for weekend barbecues . “ Our house was the Mecca for me and my brothers ’ friends to come to ,” Sheedy said .
Their parents also sponsored a local softball team , buying their uniforms , their traveling bags , airfare and more . “ She did everything for those boys ,” Sheedy said .
As hard as Grace worked , she also knew how to enjoy her downtime , Lisa said . One of their shared favorite activities was going to a casino to gamble for a few hours or play monthly bingo with friends .
LEFT ( TOP ): Grace at Christmas 2011 . LEFT : ( BOTTOM ) Iwanaga Farms Masten Ave . strawberry stand , Gilroy , circa 1980 . TOP : Executive Order 9066 signed by FDR on Feb 19 , 1942 ordering the mass incarceration of American citizens and non-citizens of Japanese desent . MIDDLE 1 : Grace at home , circa 1980 . MIDDLE 2 : Grace , Jan 2020 with Daughter Lisa Sheedy , Daughters-in-law Terri Hinmon and Cynthia Iwanaga , granddaughters Mekala Atkinson , Lauren Mantani , and Jackie Ross . ABOVE : Grace hits a jackpot Dec 2007 .
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